Albany Humane Society conducting open house this week

ALBANY — The Albany Humane Society is hosting its annual open house on Thursday evening, providing an opportunity for the public to get a close-up look at the shelter.

Humane Society Director Jonathan Sizemore said the event will be a chance for people in the community to see the shelter after normal operating hours.

“This annual event is an opportunity for our society members, board members, employee families and the public to come together to see what is going on at our shelter,” he said. “It gives the public an opportunity to meet our employees and the pets we have in our care.”

While the open house event does not promote adoption, it does offer the chance to see progress the shelter is making.

“Albany Humane has made major changes over the last year, and this year we are extremely proud of our progress,” Sizemore said. “This event gives us the opportunity to let the public know that we are serious about becoming a no-kill shelter and see the difference we have already made in just a year.”

Sizemore also said that this event is important because many supporters of the Humane Society may never normally come to the shelter.

“This event gives them a chance to do so in a casual and fun atmosphere that focuses on the season,” he said.

The Humane Society currently houses 221 animals between their two facilities, including the typical dogs and cats, as well as a pig.

The open house will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. Attendees will have a chance to meet the employees and animals at the shelter.

“Our kennels will be open for all to walk through,” Sizemore said. “We will also have light refreshments, and we will have a brief tree lighting ceremony to memorialize the animals who have died in our care and to highlight the number of animals that we have saved this year.”

Sizemore said he hopes community members will come to meet the Humane Society’s staff and their animals, and also said there are many ways for those community members to get involved and support the shelter.

“We always welcome donations, both monetary and in-kind donations of food, blankets, towels and cleaning supplies,” Sizemore said.

The Humane Society is located at 1705 W. Oakridge Drive, and can be contacted by calling (229) 888-7387.